With September being Deaf Awareness Month and September 23rd being International Day of Sign, we’re happy to feature a guest essay today from Steve Sandy, who is himself a member of the Deaf community. Steve is a recognized authority on William “Dummy” Hoy, a deaf major leaguer who played 14 seasons in the big show (1888-1902) and inspired the umpires’ hand signals still in use today…
Baseball’s Forgotten Dynasty: The Sacramento Gilt Edges!
Today we welcome a guest essay from Lisa Jonsson about the Sacramento Gilt Edges. They won four consecutive championships in the now-forgotten California League, which existed before the Pacific Coast League came into existence in 1903. I enjoyed Lisa’s easy, and I think you will too…
The Irish Impact in Baseball History
Anyone who has studied baseball’s origins in the nineteenth century can’t help but notice the influence of Irish Americans on the game’s early development. Today, we welcome a guest essay from Tim Carr detailing just how extensive that Irish influence was…
The Jackie Robinson Rundown!
Today we welcome a guest contribution from Len Ferman with an interesting essay about the day in 1951 when Jackie Robinson survived a rundown off third base…while trapped by five Phillies players!
Major League Baseball at 150!
Today we welcome a guest essay from Randy Maniloff in which he celebrates the 150th anniversary of the National League’s first game, played on April 22, 1876. Randy also interviewed baseball historian John Thorn for this essay, and John offers interesting reflections on some of the rule changes baseball has seen over the years…
The Rise and Fall of Denny McLain
Today we welcome back Matt Kastel with an interesting essay describing the life and career of Denny McLain, the last player to win 30 games. This essay is a condensed version of Matt’s longer essay for which he interviewed McLain…
Guest Post: “Two Foul Balls and an Historic Home Run!”
With all the “heavy writing” we do around here, it’s fun sometimes to step back and enjoy something about the game we all love. And I away love the personal reflections! Today were have a guest post from Andrew Wilson, telling us about his experiences with foul balls, the first at Forbes Field going back over 50 years ago…
Pete Runnels: The Most Underrated Hitter You’ve Never Heard of!
OK…I had heard of Pete Runnels and knew he played for the Red Sox, and had a vague recollection that he was a good hitter, but, as a National League fan back then, that was about the extent of my knowledge of his career. Today, we welcome back Ron Christensen who sets the record straight on this fine ball player, including winning two batting titles!…
The 1934 MVP Race: What?!? Really?!?!
What could the sportwriters have been thinkiong when they gave the 1934 MVP award to Mickey Cochrane instead of Lou Gehrig??…
Another Edition of Baseball’s Forgotten Stars: Dolph Camilli—Slugger with a Smile!
Today we welcome back longtime Brooklyn Dodger fan, Bill Gralnick, with an interesting essay about one of his favorite players: overlooked Dodger star and 19141 MVP, Dolph Camilli, one of the strongest men ever to play the game…
Joe Black: Long Memories of a Short Career, Part Two
Today we continue with Part Two of Brooklyn Dodger fan Bill Gralnick’s interesting guest essay on Dodger Joe Black. In Part Two, Bill describes Joe’s remarkable performance in the 1952 World Series, in which Manger Charlie Dressen slated him to start three games, as he became the first African-American to win a World Series game…
Joe Black: Long Memories of a Short Career
Today we welcome longtime Brooklyn Dodger fan Bill Gralnick with his first guest post. Bill writes a monthly column for the Brooklyn Eagle, where this essay about Dodger pitcher Joe Black first appeared. I think you’ll find interesting what Bill tells us about a fine pitcher who was the 1952 Rookie of the Year and the first African-American to win a World Series game…
The St. Louis Browns Last Game: September 27, 1953 Part Three
Today Matt Kastel concludes his three-part series on the St. Louis Browns with an interesting account of the Brown’s last game. In a fitting conclusion to their 51-year run in St. Louis and their well-earned reputation for ineptitude, they ran out of balls in the last game!…
“The St. Louis Browns’ Last Game,” Part Two: Enter Bill Veeck
Today we continue with Part Two of Matt Kastel’s three-part series on the St. Louis Browns. Today’s essay is titled: “Enter Bill Veeck”…
The St. Louis Browns’ Last Game
Today we welcome back Matt Kastel with the first of a three-part series on the not-so-successful history of the St. Louis Browns, certainly the most overlooked franchises in baseball history…
We made it!! Happy Opening Day!!
For old-time baseball fans like us, if there’s a better day of the year than Opening Day, I’m not sure what it is!…
An Unlikely Path To The Negro Leagues
Today we welcome back Thomas Marshall with an interesting account of an ugly incident in American history. If ever a silver lining can be found in such an incident as this, it was that it ed to certain Leavenworth inmates playing in the Negro Leagues. I think you’ll find Tom’s essay interesting…
The Babe Comes Through For a Kid Again!
Today we welcome back Andrew Sharp with an interesting essay making the point that the Babe would do anything to make a kid happy…
The Shot BEFORE the Shot Heard ‘Round the World!
Today we welcome back Matt Kastel with an interesting account of a tragic incident that occurred at the Polo grounds on July Fourth, 1950. This is something I had never heard of before. Many years later, it’s still painful to read about what happened to a fan casually sitting in the stands and enjoying a ball game…
Emmett Ashford’s Debut comes at D.C. Stadium, April 11, 1966
As part of our continuing coverage of Black History Month, we welcome Andrew Sharp with an interesting essay about the career of the major league’s first African-American umpire, Emmett Ashford…
Stan Musial and Joe Garagiola Were Teammates and Friends, But Did You Know That…
George Curcio shares with us some interesting information about the friendship between two well-known teammates from the Cardinals’ 1946 World Series championship season, Stan Musial and Joe Garagiola. The story has, to put it mildly, a rather unexpected ending…
The Cubs’ Bill Moisan: The Inspiring Story of a Genuine Baseball War Hero
Bill Moisan was a genuine World War II hero. As long-time major league scout George Biron told me, “It’s an amazing story of determination and perseverance and I felt it should be told to preserve the memory of a forgotten hero.”…
A Memorable 1969 Day In The Wrigley Field Bleachers!
For years I’ve been trying to get my good friend Mike Handley (aka: “Budman”) to send me details of the memorable day in September, 1969 when he was in the Wrigley Field bleachers and caught a home run ball hit by the Pirates’ Steve Blass. He finally did it!…
A Historical Look at Umpire Signals and Deaf MLB Players, Part Two
Today we continue with Part Two of Thomas Marshall’s series on deaf players and the development of umpire hand signals. As I mentioned, Part One got a real nice reception from the readers, and I know you’ll enjoy Part Two too. So we’ll pick up where Tom left off…
A Historical Look at Umpire Signals and Deaf MLB Players
After each play, we look to the umpire’s signal to learn the call. Ever wonder how and why those signals got started?…
“The Little Professor” Gives One Of Our Readers a Real Treasure: An Autographed Ball!
Today we welcome Thomas Healy with a nice little essay about a day he never forgot and a gift he will always treasure: An autographed ball from the “Little Professor,” Dom DiMaggio…
World War II and Major League Baseball
We welcome back Vince Jankoski will another of his specialties: “What ifs?” Today he tackles “what if” WW II hadn’t rudely intruded on the careers of many of baseball’s biggest stars…
The Case For Eddie Mathews
Vince Jankosi is back today, this time making the case that Eddie Mathews is the best pre-Mike Schmidt third baseman. As usual, Vince has done his homework and makes a very strong case. See if you agree…
Who Was the Better Third Baseman, Brooks or Clete?
Today we welcome back Vince Jankoski with another thought-provoking essay, asking the question: Who was a better fielder, Brooks Robinson or Clete Boyer?…
Part Two: Was Kansas City Really a “Farm Team” for the Yankees?
Those of you who read Part One of this two-part series will recall that Vince Jankoski is doing a “deep dive’ into the trades between the Athletics and Yankees from the early 1950s into the 1960s. Vince is making the case that K.C. serving as the Yankees’ “farm team” is a myth…
Deep Dive Into the Question: “Was Kansas City Really a ‘Farm Team’ For the Yankees?”
Today, we welcome guest contributor Vince Jankoski, who takes an in-depth look at trades between the Kansas City Athletics and the Yankees in the 1950s and early 1960s, dispelling the myth that the A’s were a “farm team” for the Yankees…
The All-Quirky All-Star Team!
“Ah…You can’t beat fun at the old ballpark,” famously said beloved broadcaster, Harry Caray. For that matter you can’t beat fun here on our Baseball History Comes Alive website, either!…
Peter Wilt’s Journey to Find the “Eight Men Out,” Part Two
In Part One, Peter described his visits to the graves of Joe Jackson, Hap Felsch, and Buck Weaver. He continues his story with visits to the graves of Eddie Cicotte, Lefty Williams, Fred McMullin, Swede Risberg, and the ringleader, Chick Gandil.
My Journey to Find the “Eight Men Out”
Today we welcome a guest essay from Peter Wilt. Peter is a man after my own heart: just as I do, he has an ongoing interest in the Black Sox scandal…
The Interesting Connection Between Early American Baseball and International Soccer
As a sports-playing fanatic growing up in the Northern Suburbs of Chicago, it was baseball in the spring and summer, basketball in the winter, and football in the fall, or, as we knew them, the All-American games…
Wearn Field…and The Ghost of Phillies’ Spring Training Past
Today we have something a bit different. Guest contributor Matt Kastel returns with an interesting account of Phillies’ Spring Training – 1919 style – at Charlotte’s Wearn Park…
“Where Have You Gone VINCE DiMaggio?” Remembering the Old Oakland Oaks
Where have you gone VINCE DiMaggio? Today we welcome Michale Tymn with an interesting first-hand account from his youth as an Oakland Oaks fan in the 1940s.
Baseball’s Deadliest Day: Black Saturday – The tragedy that changed ballpark construction forever
Black Saturday began innocently enough when a 13-year-old girl ran an errand for her aunt that took her past where the Phillies were playing a doubleheader…
The Original Mr. Cub: “Jolly Cholly” Grimm
Today we welcome back to the fold Michael Keedy with an interesting essay covering the long career of Charlie Grimm, calling him the original “Mr. Cub.”…
Will There Ever Be Another Player Like Hammerin’ Hank?
“The pitcher has got only a ball. I’ve got a bat. So, the percentage in weapons is in my favor and I let the fellow with the ball do the fretting.” -Hank Aaron